With the second drowning at the beach in less than a year, Mayor George Proto called a special meeting of Town Council to get a status update. Town Manager Brent Manuel reported that staff was able to put in place a ‘boat free zone’, using a floating barrier.A set of twelve signs reading “CAUTION. Approaching DEEP WATER” have been placed across the beach. The signs are
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in English and Spanish. Although the boat exclusion zone only stretches from the pier to Monroe, staff will be looking at getting permits to extend it further down the beach. Manuel said there will be some gaps in the zone to allow for personal water craft or smaller boats to pass through.
“It is a boat exclusionary zone, not a swim area,” said Mayor Proto. “The buoys will have language to say that it is a swimming area.”
“Yes. But there is nothing to preclude someone from swimming outside that boundary,” added Manuel.
“Are you going to talk about the drowning?” asked a member of the audience (new to town, the Mirror was unable to acquire the names).
“This is not a public hearing. We don’t normally allow questions from the audience,” responded Proto.
“You’re not going to discuss the drowning at all? That’s why we came,” she asked. “Lifeguards? Are you going to get lifeguards?”
“You may submit your questions in writing and we will respond to them,” said Proto.
“So the only way for us to voice our opinions is through writing?”
“Yes,” said Proto. “There are other times, when you can discuss other topics.”
“There will be a public hearing on this topic?” asked the audience member.
“You can submit your questions in writing,” said Proto.
“If I have a petition, who do I give it to?”
“Just see me after the meeting,” said Proto. “See me after the meeting.”
As these members got up to exit the room, Debbie Bender accosted the mayor, “If you don’t let us speak, I’m calling all three TV stations tomorrow. Try me. That beach is dangerous. You all knew it, and you did nothing about it. Every kid that has drowned has been a minority—had it been a pretty little white girl from a prominent family, you would have done something then.”
After Bender left, Councilman Godwin addressed the Mayor, “What exactly are we trying to do with this boat exclusionary zone?”
“Do you want to take that?” Proto asked Manuel.
“I can only speak to what it was designed to do,” said Manuel.
“Boat exclusion zone? What we have is a drowning problem. What other steps are we going to take to provide more protection?” asked Councilman Wendell. “We can put out a line, but that will just attract teen boys to it, give them something to hang onto. If it’s not monitored, well we have talked about life guards, but we read in the paper that the Town’s main concern is the cost. Did you actually get an estimate of what the cost is?”
“Not to my knowledge,” answered Manuel.
“Signs, we need to mention the drop-off and the dangerous currents. I’d like to have staff work up the cost. We can hire people to have exercise classes and sand castle contests, we might want to consider hiring some lifeguards,” said Wendell.
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“Why do we have this boat exclusionary zone, this thing to keep boats out? It says nothing about drowning. Was the drowning caused by a boat?” asked Godwin.
Sambo Brown added, “Lifeguards have to be certified, and have to be there when the beach is open. We have a lot more people on the beach now.”
“If we say the cost is prohibitive, how long would it take to get some quantitative numbers about just how prohibitive it will actually be?” asked Wendell.
“Frank, I don’t think we can engineer this thing here,” said Proto. “We need to find out which beaches are not protected, and what steps they have taken to provide some form of safety measures.”
“Let’s not kid ourselves. The swim rope, the signs is by no means enough to educate people and warn them of the danger. For many, it is their first time to the beach,” said Wendell.
“We can’t be the helicopter council,” said Councilman Bannon. “We’ve had two tragedies. It is the safest beach on the East Coast. And it’s shark free. We try to do every tiny little thing—it goes on and on. The parents, they are the ones that are responsible for their children. A 16 year old has to make choices in life. Some steal and go to jail. You just can’t be the helicopter council.”
Godwin added, “It bothers me that the public thinks they need to assist us, to tell us what to do. We’re supposed to have the better minds. That’s why they elected us. When we address something like this, staff needs to research every possible angle—when we come to the table, we’ll look good.”
“The beach,” said Wendell. “It is deceiving. It looks so shallow. Because of the dredging, it is a lot closer to the channel, and that much more dangerous. We have a lot more work to do.”
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After the meeting, some citizens voiced concerns that Council was still not taking beach safety seriously, that there was more concern about saving money for pet projects rather than preventing more drowning tragedies, and that measures to date were more about protecting them and reducing liability than anything else. The consensus outside the Civic Center was that there was still much more work to be done.
Dear Councilman Godwin, the public thinks they “need to assist” because it’s our right. You may be an elected official, but that does not preclude the public from participating in decisions that concern our town. I don’t know how to respond to the “better minds” comment, except to say “wow, that’s scary.” I do know that I will be keeping a close eye on our Council’s decisions and actions in the future, and my mind, for better or worse, will vote accordingly.
I did not realize that Godwin had been appointed King of Cape Charles. It “bothers” him that the public wants to have a say in town affairs? I don’t know about the rest of the apparently “lesser” minds in Cape Charles, but I anxiously await the next election.
Councilman Godwin said ““Why do we have this boat exclusionary zone, this thing to keep boats out? It says nothing about drowning. Was the drowning caused by a boat?” asked Godwin.”
FYI Mr. Godwin….a lot of us campaigned to get you elected. Frank Wendell PAID for the flyers and PAID HIS FRIENDS to take them all over town and this comes out of your mouth??? YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW THE RECENT DROWNING HAPPENNED ????
My husband was so excited about getting you on town council and his uncle EDWARD BENDER told him you would go whatever way the wind blew and YOU have done exactly that.
Deborah Bender: The next time you sit down at your computer to give your opinion please:
1. Take a deep, calming breath.
2. Think: WWJS ?
3. Type.
Marita….when I feel the need for your advice I will be sure and look you up.
Have a pleasant evening
So, because Frank financed Mr. Godwin’s campaign, he is supposed to side with Frank on everything? So basically you’re saying Frank is the Koch Brothers of Cape Charles, trying to buy candidates and have them vote with him, simply because he paid for flyers and helped get him elected? That is laughable and also what is wrong with American politics. Personally, I think it is great that Mr. Godwin has a brain of his own, and doesn’t simply vote with Frank because of a favor some years ago. Ridiculous.
Oh Lord….Jack has come in on the string with something negative.
Siding with the “chosen ones”.
Will wonders never cease ?
LOL !
I have no clue what that comment was supposed to say, but I read it as “Yes, Frank paid for Mr. Godwin’s campaign flyers, so he is forever indebted to him and should always vote with Frank!” Yep, still sounds just as ridiculous.
It would be nice if Mr. Godwin would read the agenda packets so that he could at least “act” fairly intelligent in the meetings. I have been to many meetings when he had no idea what he was even voting on. He usually leans into the mayor and asks questions or just votes the way the majority votes.
If you READ the article you would have seen that he didn’t have a clue how the recent drowning happened.
AND he thinks he is the smartest one !
MAYBE you JACK should come to some meetings so the YOU JACK would KNOW what you are talking about instead of ATTACKING ME at every opportunity.
Have a nice day Jack !
Ms. Bruce’s comments represent the feelings of many in Cape Charles with regard to the treatment of voters after elections. Seems the BOS has adopted a similar disregard of the voters of the county. They know better and only want your vote at election time then want you to go away. Next time remember who shut down public comment and debate and vote accordingly.
I wonder in the early 70’s if Steven Spielberg used Cape Charles as a source for his movie Jaws. Having just recently seen it again, it reminds me so much of the council that currently sits for Cape Charles. Reading these articles, and the complaints from the council about the citizenry being part of the process, is scary, and the people in that town better take a look at what is really going on there, it makes me not want to visit, or possibly retire in that area.